Suns current state

boisesuns

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Been around the forums for a while, but man is this team brutal to watch. A consistent dumpster fire.

What needs to be done? Where do they even start? I'm glad we're not signing old free agents like we've done more recently and seem to be trying to build through the draft, but even that seems less likely to be consistent enough.

Hoping the changes start building on each other to make this team actually matter again.
 

Cheesebeef

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Been around the forums for a while, but man is this team brutal to watch. A consistent dumpster fire.

What needs to be done? Where do they even start? I'm glad we're not signing old free agents like we've done more recently and seem to be trying to build through the draft, but even that seems less likely to be consistent enough.

Hoping the changes start building on each other to make this team actually matter again.

New ownership.
 

Mainstreet

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Been around the forums for a while, but man is this team brutal to watch. A consistent dumpster fire.

What needs to be done? Where do they even start? I'm glad we're not signing old free agents like we've done more recently and seem to be trying to build through the draft, but even that seems less likely to be consistent enough.

Hoping the changes start building on each other to make this team actually matter again.

I think you hit on the answer. If the Suns want a new arena, they need to put a good product on the floor.

Sarver should want this team to succeed and do everything possible to make it happen.
 

JS22

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The plan itself is fine. My hope is Sarver doesn't go into full-on panic. McD's seat must be feeling pretty warm and I worry about Sarver pushing for trades that accomplish nothing, while losing assets.

Suns just need a competent coach than can manage a young team and .... actually coach. Majerle would have been perfect but that ship has sailed.
 

BC867

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STATUS REPORT:

So let's recap the status of our Phoenix Disaster, I mean Phoenix Suns. They have lost their first three games of the season, one by 48 points and one by 42. And we gave up 132 points in the other game.

And that Eric Bledsoe, the tweener Guard (who should have been traded last year), tweeted, “I don’t wanna be here.” A few hours later, our latest cheap and inexperienced Head Coach, Earl Watson, was fired by owner Robert $arver (the $mall town banker), whom Jerry Colangelo hand picked as his successor as owner and has been a flop. He even named himself interim General Manager in the past.

Coach Earl Watson’s alphabet has only 24 letters -- no X’s or O’s. He never should have been hired as Head Coach. But he was instructed probably by his cheap and inexperienced GM Ryan McDonough, as well as the Tucson banker, to tank for the second year in a row, and probably for however long it takes until we get the #1 pick in the draft (which the NBA office makes sure never happens). This season will be the Suns 8th straight without a playoff appearance.

Watson should not have been our Head Coach. McDonough should not be our GM. And $arver should not be our owner. But the double edged sword there is that if he sells the team, the Phoenix Disaster (I mean Suns) would probably be moved to Seattle in a heartbeat. And, oh yes, the L.A. Rams beat the Arizona Cardinals 33-0 today. And, if the Diamondbacks cannot afford to sign their MVP last season, JD Martinez (batting behind Paul Goldschmidt in the lineup), the D-backs post-season appearance would be short lived.

Arizona's golden age of major league sports has come to an end. Sad!
 

Magnus

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That was a great recap of the situation. Such a sad story to read.
 

pokerface

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I think you hit on the answer. If the Suns want a new arena, they need to put a good product on the floor.

Sarver should want this team to succeed and do everything possible to make it happen.


Well what do you think he's doing? Trying to ruin the team? What are his options?


This team has had injuries and bad circumstances beyond his control. The beginning of the end was when Amare left...but someone could make the case when Joe Johnson left. But both instances they were offered obsene money. Amare had bad knee(s) and he couldn't match because of it. JJ didn't want to be here anymore...he wanted to be the man and not Nash's decoy. Then Nash got old finally...no ones fault there. Sarver wasn't to blame for any of that. Then the free agents dried up because minus those three no one wanted to be here. Did some trades...some good...some not. Along the way he had some bad general managers until McD came along who is decent. So he eventually was forced to take the long view and build through the draft....which takes forever.

All he needs is the stomach to finish what he started with the draft...and not wuss out and get impatient. Some of these guys will improve too in time. The Miami picks have yet to come.
 

hsandhu

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Sarver is an idiot who has cost us titles.... but he is finally doing the right plan.

I worry he wont have the stomach to take all the criticism and stay the course with the plan, and will make some dumb trade giving up our young assets for a chance to win 45 games every year.
 

BillsCarnage

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It’s amazing, isn’t it? The guy inherited a perennial playoff contender and ran it in to the ground to the point in which the Suns are now the Clippers of old.
There's no guarantee a new owner would be any better.

Well what do you think he's doing? Trying to ruin the team?
Well....

Then the free agents dried up because minus those three no one wanted to be here.
Ding. Word spreads around the league of owners who players don't want to play for. This franchise used to be one that top talent took pay cuts to play here. Now no amount of grovelling will attract top tier FA's.

Did some trades...some good...some not. Along the way he had some bad general managers until McD came along who is decent.
Ding. Let's now forget who hired those GM's.

So he eventually was forced to take the long view and build through the draft....which takes forever.
Ding. In today's free agent sports world rebuilding is easier than ever. A team might have to overpay for a player, but a winning culture will bring other players.

All he needs is the stomach to finish what he started with the draft...and not wuss out and get impatient.
Ding. I wonder how patient Sarver will be as season ticket holders start dwindling? In his, what 13 or so years of ownership he hasn't given fans much hope for... well, anything.

To Cardinal fans this whole scenario is all too familiar. All owners want to win, but some just don't know how to. Sarver is one of those owners who doesn't know how to win. Be it how he treats players, creates the in-house culture for the Suns or his reputation among the players or fans in the league.

He's trying, but he's been trying since he bought the team and still can't seem to figure out a direction for the franchise. Aside from this never ending nose dive.
 

Hoop Head

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Ding. In today's free agent sports world rebuilding is easier than ever. A team might have to overpay for a player, but a winning culture will bring other players.

I don't think it is and don't see where you're coming up with that. Look at the NBA, the Lakers have been awful for about 4-5 years now, the Heat fell apart after Lebron left, and most other teams outside of the playoff picture have been there for a while. That's because it takes time to rebuild, it's not easier than ever before, maybe in the NFL or MLB but not in the NBA. Even the Mavericks, who were perennial 50 win team are now cellar dwellers.

He's trying, but he's been trying since he bought the team and still can't seem to figure out a direction for the franchise. Aside from this never ending nose dive.

Despite the firing of Watson the plan is the same, which was outlined at McD's press conference this offseason, continue to build through the draft with our young players while sticking to the timeline. People keep acting like the plan has changed or there isn't one in place but if they saw the presser with McD the plan was laid out for all to see and it went into effect last season. It was talked up this offseason because you don't come out midseason and discuss tanking.

There are reports that McD and Watson butted heads a good amount during his 1 1/2 seasons here so I think it was known it was a mistake to hire him but the team did it because all of the players sung his praises after he took over for Hornacek during their exit interviews. The more that's come out about Watson and his style helps explain some of the issues, like how Brandon Knight became so awful last year. I can see it playing how, him being frustrated about being moved to the 6th man role and rather than selling him on what he can do in that role and how he could be the new Jamal Crawford you got Watson telling him basketball isn't that important, it's more important he's happy for his teammates and in his personal life.

That's just one example of things being mishandled by Watson, who knows what else was happening behind the scenes but some things are starting to click and make more sense. Watson's style and philosophy was most likely was caused Len to go back to Maryland to play with his college coaches this offseason, why stick around and be talked to about yoga BS when it's clear he needed help on the court.
 

SweetD

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Also having Bledsoe didn't help he was never a leader and someone who would push the team to not accept loosing. I have played with guys like this, they just don't care about winning and more interested in getting their points.

Booker and Jackson are hungry have that drive to be great. This is why I really didn't care for Watson's "let's all get along" bs
 

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